Hunting With Dachshunds

What an odd old German postcard. Think of all the trouble dachshunds would get into if they had human hands. There would be a big mess in the kitchen every time the humans left the house from all the frying of bacon and eggs that would be going on.
Regardless, Dave Bakke at The State Journal-Register out of Springfield, Illinois, had a look at the recent trend to use dachshunds to track deer. Here's an excerpt: First of all, I can just picture excited wiener dogs with their tiny, stubby legs hot on the trail of a wounded or dead deer. People are inclined to laugh, but it works.
Approximately 15 states nationwide permit the practice, though individual regulations vary. Illinois legalized the tracking of wounded deer using a leashed dog three years ago (520 ILCS 5/2.26). The dog must be on a leash of no more than 50 feet, the dog can track at night, and dog trackers don't need a hunting license. But they have to wear blaze orange.
But before you roust your fat, old house dachshund from her warm bed in the corner, know that just any dachshund won't do. They have to be trained first. So let old Fritz sleep by the fire this weekend. Read all about it at The State Journal-Register.

Related: The Working Dachshund: Meet Anja

Have a great Friday!

'The Long and Short of it All' - The First Six Months

Well, it's nothing to write home about really, but The Long and Short of it All turned 6 months old yesterday. Some would say that's an eternity in the world of the internet, but 215 posts later, we sure have seen some fun and laughs, some hope and some despair, and we've made lots of new dachshund friends. It's a lot of work sometimes - on some days we get up in the morning and say 'what in the heck are we gonna talk about today?' But no matter how trivial - or fantastic - a dachshund related story may be, we find it fascinating. Thanks so much to our faithful readers, and we hope you find it fascinating as well. Woof!
We always welcome any submissions, and please leave a comment when you visit some time!

Yours in Dachshund Love,
Joey and Maggie

Related: Welcome to The Long and Short of it All!

The Aging Dachshund

Meet 17.5-year-old 'Rudy' and his human Sue Darby. Oh, my aching old bones. Rudy has kidney problems, is losing his sight, and has had 3 back surgeries. But he's happy. The Gazette in Colorado Springs, Colorado, had a look at the tough choices humans face as our pets age. Here's an excerpt: Rudy has that grizzled, old grandpa look about him.
His steps are slowed by three back surgeries and assorted aches and pains. Kidney problems awaken him a couple of times each night, and he's losing his sight. He prefers long naps in the sun, but rallies for walks in the yard and some bickering with his canine companions, Sam and Casey.
Rudy, a miniature dachshund, recently turned 17 1/2 years old - about 88 in human years. And if aging is hard on him, it's been equally challenging for his owners, Sue and Terry Darby.
They have a calendar in the kitchen to track times for Rudy's vet visits and medicine, which includes pills for high blood pressure and saline solution for his kidney ailment. They don't vacation or leave home for extended times - the last time they went away and left a house-sitter in charge, the stress and worry put Rudy in the hospital.
Such is life with a geriatric dog - an experience that more and more people are encountering with their canine and feline companions.
The Darbys got Rudy in a pet store in Denver years ago, and the rambunctious little dog ruled the roost. "And he used to run like the wind," Sue says with a catch in her voice.
Now he spends most of his time sleeping in a warm, fluffy bed in the kitchen with the other pets. He eats senior pet food with an occasional hamburger, although for his birthday, he wolfed down a Twinkie and a doughnut covered with powdered sugar.
They say Rudy's life is a balancing act - an issue that confronts all owners of elderly pets.
"It would be easy for us to be selfish and keep him alive at all costs. But we have the vet monitor him and there is an agreement that when Rudy is in pain and has no quality of life ..." Sue says, her voice trailing off.
"We are prepared to lose him," Terry says. "Every day is a blessing."
Read more about Rudy and get some tips on aging pets from The Gazette.

Dachshunds in Literature: There's a Dachshund in My Bed!

It's with a heavy heart that we report author and dachshund lover Paul Epner passed away on Friday. Mr. Epner was also a math teacher, and championed animals, kids, reading, and learning. We're hoping that his popular children's book There's a Dachshund in my Bed! remains a classic and continues to entertain and teach children for many years.
Here's a description of the book from The Free Library: An interactive picture book specifically written in rhyming narrative couplets by Paul Epner and lively illustrated by Bill Reed for children ages 6 to 10, There's A Dachshund In My Bed! is the story of a dachshund puppy who is trying to get to sleep by creatively counting animals using different mathematical operations. Children are introduced to the names given to groups of different animals as well as learning how to work on the math problems that are interwoven into the engaging and thoroughly entertaining story.
My San Antonio said of Mr. Epner when he brought his dachshunds 'Chester' and 'Shirley' with him to a 2004 press conference on the book: Epner, who laughed loud and long and seemingly did not have an introverted bone in his body, didn't think twice about bringing canines to a conference.
The self-proclaimed "Wiener Dog Man" simply assumed everyone would want to meet Chester and Shirley. He was right. The dogs attracted quite a crowd, making an interview with their housemate difficult.
"I love dogs, and I love dachshunds," Epner said at the time. "I love animals in general and became a vegetarian as a result."
"In this world you've gotta find a passion in life," Epner said in a 2005 interview. "I love working with kids and I love to write, so I've found a special place."
Read the rest at My San Antonio.

NASCAR Dachshunds

And we're not talking about wiener races today! Meet 'Roxy' and 'Daisy,' the pretty red smooth dachshunds owned by NASCAR driver David Reutimann, his wife Lisa, and daughter Emilia. NASCAR.com took a look at where their drivers' pets go on race weekends. Most of them head to K9 Cabins & Dog Trails, Inc. in Troutman, NC; the ultimate NASCAR-style accommodation for canines belonging to some of the sports biggest stars and industry players.
"My husband [crew chief for Richard Childress Racing's No. 29 Busch Series team] knew I wanted to own a really unique dog boarding facility and he has made my dream come true," said K9 Cabins owner Elena Smith. "I always had a dream of taking care of dogs," she said, "so before we opened I went to a lot of races and started handing out business cards."
Each cabin is themed -- Harley Davidson, NASCAR, Gone Fishing, Jimmy Buffett, etc. -- and equipped with a doggie door that leads to an outside patio. Read all about it at NASCAR.com.

David Reutimann talked about Roxy and Daisy on his blog: "They're cute but they can be a handful at times. Of course, they're spoiled and occasionally make a trip to the race track with us as well."

Find out more about David Reutimann at wikipedia.

The Dachshund Commercial That Never Was

We think this should have won first prize! From 'jaspearianpictures' at youtube: Lunch just isn't complete without Heinz Ketchup and a loyal friend. This was an entry for Heinz Ketchup's "Top This TV Challenge", for which I served as writer, director, camera operator and editor.
Have a great Monday!

Dachshund Lap of Luxury

In a follow-up to Saturday's post What Ever Happened to Brooke Astor's Dachshunds?/Who is Iris Love?, this is a photo of Iris love with Brooke Astor's dachshunds, 'Boysie' and 'Girlsie.' Looks like there's lots of Love to go around. Excerpt from The New York Post: "Mrs. Astor and I shared two great loves - dachshunds and China," said Love. "They are really happy in their new home, although they miss their mother, Mrs. Astor."
Love has known the dogs for years. They are perennial guests of honor at her Westminster Kennel Club dog show party at Tavern on the Green, an annual bash she throws for about 500 canines, complete with fire-hydrant-shaped ice sculptures. Read the rest at The New York Post.

Update November 30th: There sure was lots of unfortunate drama around the wonderful Mrs. Astor and her doxies. If you like drama, check out this gossip column from The Daily News.

Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Mischa Auer

Mischa Auer prepares his face with the help of his dachshund in 1950

Who? Mischa Auer (1905 - 1967), born Mischa Ounskowsy, was a Russian-born American stage, film, radio and TV actor who was best known for his zany comedy roles. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1936 for his performance in My Man Godfrey. What a fun photo of Mischa and his dachshund! He led an interesting life; his father died as an officer in the Imperial Russian Navy, and he lived on the street as a homeless child in extreme poverty. He was reunited with his mother, and they fled Stalin's socialist Russia to Turkey, where his mother, who had nursing experience, contracted typhus from her patients and died. The young Mischa dug her grave with his hands. He later emigrated to New York to live with his grandfather, violinist Leopold Auer. His grandfather encouraged him to study music, and while he became an accomplished musician and was able to play multiple instruments, he turned to acting. Find out more about Mischa Auer at The Internet Movie Database.

What Ever Happened To Brooke Astor's Dachshunds?/Who is Iris Love?

Astor and dachshunds, 1962

At the time of her death a few months ago, Brooke Astor had 2 dachshunds: 'Boysie' and 'Girlsie.' Where are they now? Liz Smith gives an update in The New York Post: Many people have asked what became of Brooke's two famous dachshunds, Boysie and Girlsie? They were the loves of her life, with whom she was finally reunited toward the end of her 105 years.
These doxies have now been personally escorted by Brooke's friend, Annette de la Renta, and placed in the care of our friend Iris Love, who raises championship dachshunds at the Dachsmith Love Kennel in Vermont. Here, they live inside with the caretaker and his wife and are treated like royalty. The Astor canines also seem to love the company of other dogs.

Related: NY Socialite Brooke Astor Dies at 105

And who, exactly, is Iris Love? We can't find much information on her, but she's been interviewed for Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary, and is described as "famous archaeologist, historian, Guggenheim heiress, and patron saint of the dachshund world."

Here's part of an interview with Iris Love for Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary that ended up on the cutting room floor. One of your hosts, Joey, totally agrees with her about the absurdity of the exclusion of the piebald in the AKC dachshund standard. Joey has made it his life's mission to see that piebalds are added to the standard. "The piebald, the original pregenitor of the dachshund." Woof!

Dachshunds Love Hockey

The Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors are hosting another popular dog day afternoon this Sunday in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. This is a pic from last year's event where little black and tan smooth 'Brittany' got to meet her hero IceDog Stefan Legein. Check out that coy smile on Brittany's face. There will be a contest for the best dressed dog in Majors gear, and the doggies get to run around on the ice during intermission. Find out more at The Mississauga News.

Happy Thanksgiving

'Doxieone' over at flickr has really outdone herself this time, this is too funny! And perhaps a little disturbing! Doxieone is one of the most prolific contributors of dachshund photos over at flickr, make sure to check out her pretty dachshunds.
Also, enjoy this surprisingly familiar dachshund Thanksgiving tale from The Fayetteville Observer: Janice Coleman of Euless, Texas, was another online respondent with a Thanksgiving disaster. Her story may make you think twice about letting pets in on the Thanksgiving fun:
“My aunt and uncle were having guests over for Thanksgiving, and my aunt had put her turkey on the table in her kitchen to cool. After talking to her guests, she went into the kitchen only to discover her dachshund had climbed a chair to get to the table, and was thus, eating their turkey!
“Needless to say, my aunt and uncle had to quickly bundle up their guests to find a restaurant to take them to that day.”

Welcome Home JR The Dognapped Dachshund

Jimmy Wetch knows he shouldn't have done what he did: he left his handsome black and tan smooth boy 'JR' (pronounced junior) in his unlocked SUV at 1:30 in the morning on Sunday at the gas station while he went in to get some ice cream and a dog treat. And his car was stolen with JR inside. But Jimmy and JR are going to have the best Thanksgiving ever, as there was a tearful reunion yesterday. We're so happy you're home, JR! Excerpt from Pioneer Press: First the carjacked wiener dog was rescued from a rough-and-tumble Minneapolis neighborhood Wednesday.
Then he was reunited with his owner.
And when the owner and the rescuer met, grown men were reduced to tears. Now a man who never felt he gave his mother and sister a proper grave, can.
"They should make a movie about this," an emotionally spent Jimmy Wetch said Wednesday evening.
Wetch's dachshund, JR, was stolen - along with Wetch's car - outside a Fridley gas station early Sunday.
For days, he had been raising reward money and fearing the worst because no one had seen his car or his dog.
Meanwhile, a Minneapolis man, unaware the dogjacking had garnered media attention, spent the previous four days trying to lure the dog away from a boarded-up building - and a group of kids looking to abuse it. He succeeded Wednesday morning and called animal control.
At 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, Minneapolis Animal Control called Wetch.
"Junior!" Wetch exclaimed as an animal control officer sprung the 5-year-old pooch loose in the lobby of the Animal Care Center a little more than two hours later. "There he is!" he said, speaking in the third person but addressing the dog.
JR - the name is pronounced "Junior" - speed-loped, as only a dachshund can, toward his owner and began slapping his tongue against Wetch's cheek.
"Oh, he's mad at me," Wetch said. "I'm sorry." Read the rest of this heart-warming story at Pioneer Press.

Dachshund Anticipation

That turkey will be ours.

We love this pic by c(h)ristine over at flickr. Make sure to check out hundreds of awesome pics of 'Ziggy' (left), and 'Scarlet,' right here. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thankful Dachshunds, Thankful Humans

With Thanksgiving just hours away, The New York Post checked in with New Yorkers for whom the holiday has extra-special meaning. This is the story of pretty red long-hair 'Eloise,' and we know she'll get a special bite of turkey tomorrow. Excerpt from The New York Post: Meanwhile, mini-Manhattanite Eloise, a 12-year-old dachshund, is lucky that a disc rupture hasn't left her hind legs permanently paralyzed. Spinal issues are quite common with dachshunds, and many need wheelchairs to get around. But Eloise will soon be able to walk without wheels thanks to surgery performed by Yonkers vet Dr. Jason Berg. To strengthen her muscles, the spinally challenged senior gets hydrotherapy at Manhattan's Animal Medical Center. For now, Eloise gets around in a pet stroller, but soon her paws will be pounding pavement again.

Dachshunds at the Barber Shop

Meet pretty little black and tan smooth 'Maggie.' She's the shop dog and greeter at Jake DeBlieck's Barber Shop on Main Street in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Even if Jake gave bad haircuts, we'd go just to see Maggie every couple of weeks. Maggie is "particularly fond of hunters who wear the 'perfume' of a recent deer harvest on their boots." If you'd like to find out more about the recently opened shop, read all about it at Park Rapids Enterprise.

Jake the Barber

Dachshunds to Hit the Runway in Scottsdale

Meet pretty red long-hairs 'Twosie' (top), and 'Itsie.' They're local doxie models who will be gracing the carpet at an upcoming canine event called "Deck the Halls with Bow Wows." The Scottsdale, Arizona extravaganza will be held on December 8th, and is an annual fundraiser for the Arizona Animal Welfare League. We're sure that Itsie and Twosie will steal the show. If you're interested in this event, read all about it at Arizona Central.

Dachshunds in Literature: Madison Avenue Maxi

Just in time for the holidays, we've got new dachshund literature and famous doxie owners! Touted by its publisher as a Marley and Me for the uptown set, Madison Avenue Maxi is a memoir about a miniature dachshund 'Maxi,' by Elke Gazzara, former fashion model, and wife of movie star Ben Gazzara.

Here's a description from Amazon: When Ben Gazzara and his wife, Elke, reluctantly agree to adopt the pet dachshund their daughter no longer wants, the couple unknowingly takes a new member into their family. Neither of the Gazzaras is a "dog person," and the sudden presence of a pet in the lives of these jet-setters appears at first uncertain. However, the ever-sweet, playful, and surprisingly smart Maxi immediately endears herself, and soon she becomes the Gazzaras’ unlikely "child" in the empty nest of their Madison Avenue townhouse. The little dog accompanies the pair everywhere — to the theater, restaurants, dinner parties, world-class hotels, receptions for heads of state, and even the dentist. Madison Avenue Maxi is the story of a love affair between a dog and her owners. With heartfelt humor and a dog lover's eye, Gazzara chornicles Maxi's antics in Manhattan as well as at their second home in Tuscany and over travels to the French Riviera, Brazil, Spain, and other luxurious locales. Along the way she meets celebrities such as Roman Polanski, Gena Rowlands, John Voigt, Danielle Steele, Gay Talese, Peter Bogdanovich, New York's mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Frank Gehry. Madison Avenue Maxi is a warm, touching memoir of man — and woman's—best friend.

Elke, Ben, and Maxi Gazzara at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, Spain, 2005

Actor Ben Gazzara, 1955. Find out more about Ben Gazzara at wikipedia.

Elke's Canine Couture: A Warm Hug

Meet the Gazzara's at a reading on December 1st in The Hamptons.

Dachshunds Strut Their Stuff in Pennsylvania

Such pretty wire-hairs! Yesterday was the 26th Annual dachshund show organized by the Dachshund Fanciers Association of Berks County in Pennsylvania. The show took place at the Berks County 4-H Community Center in Bern Township. Over 100 dachshunds showed up from several states including Maine, New Jersey, and Virginia. Above, Merle Robinson of Armagh, Indiana County, waits outside the ring with 'Rusty,' left, and 'Rosie.' Read all about it at The Reading Eagle.

'Meena' gets some help in the ring from Tonta N. Stoner of West Chester. Stoner was handling for owner Kandice Kostic of Rockvale, Md.

Hollywood Dachshunds

Hollywood Florida, that is. Regardless of what Hollywood a dachshund may live in, we know they like that warm sun. City residents Simon Vela, brother Manuel and mother Beatriz walk the family dachshunds 'Cookie' and 'Sisi' on Hollywood beach. Hollywood Florida is testing the waters with a dog beach, and they've extended the test period. Sounds promising for our canine friends. If you're interested in the doggy beach in Hollywood, read the rest at the Miami Herald.

Dachshunds in Literature: The Nature of Dogs

What a great cover! Dachshunds represent in this new photo book by Mary Ludington, The Nature of Dogs. The collection of photos offers the award-winning photographer's stunning black-and-white and sepia portraits of many breeds, including the glee of a dachshund bounding through snow. Find out more at The Nature of Dogs.

Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Andy Warhol

Famous Dachshund Owner? Pop Culture? Our Hero! Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987), better known as Andy Warhol, was an American artist who was a central figure in the movement known as Pop art. After a successful career as a commercial illustrator, Warhol became famous worldwide for his work as a painter, an avant-garde filmmaker, a record producer, an author, and a public figure known for his presence in wildly diverse social circles that included bohemian street people, distinguished intellectuals, Hollywood celebrities and wealthy aristocrats. A controversial figure during his lifetime (his work was often derided by critics as a hoax or "put-on"), Warhol has been the subject of numerous retrospective exhibitions, books and documentary films since his death in 1987. He is generally acknowledged as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.
His dachshunds were 'Amos' and 'Archie.' The above photo of Warhol and Archie was taken in 1973 by photographer Jack Mitchell.

Dachshund (Archie), 1976, synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas

Excerpt from artnet: In the early 1970’s the era of Andy’s cats ends and Andy’s dogs begins. In 1973 Jed Johnson, Andy’s boyfriend, convinced him they should get a dog. Through a friend’s recommendation, Jed decided on a dark brown, shorthaired dachshund puppy. Jed and Andy named him Archie. It was definitely the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Andy and Jed adored Archie. Andy took Archie to his studio, to art openings, and Ballato’s Restaurant on Houston Street. The wife of the owner, John Ballato, had a toy poodle named Muffy and Andy was encouraged to bring Archie so he could be Muffy’s companion. I do not remember the dogs ever playing together because Archie was always on Andy’s lap, eating bits of food that he was handed. Archie was carefully hidden under Andy’s napkin just case a restaurant health inspector would happen to come by. John’s restaurant was very exclusive and he only allowed people he knew and liked to sit at one of his tables for lunch or dinner. It was a hangout for the emerging art world, those who were settling into New York City’s SoHo area in the early 1970’s. Andy was so attached to Archie that he would not travel to London because he could not bare leaving Archie at home or in quarantine for six months. Archie became Andy’s alter ego. Andy would hold Archie when being photographed by the press and would deflect questions to him that he did not want to answer. The artist Jamie Wyeth did a portrait of Andy with Archie being held under Andy’s arm looking like the sophisticated and regal dog that he was.
Two or three years after getting Archie, Andy and Jed got a second dachshund, this time a light brown, shorthaired puppy they named Amos. Unlike Archie who enjoyed the company of people and was very social, Amos was more like a regular dog. Archie and Amos kept each other entertained in Andy’s townhouse barking and chasing each other. Archie’s days of going out on the town with Andy ended.
During his last years, Warhol lived alone in a five-storey building with his two miniature dachshunds, surrounded by antiques, art and about 175 cookie jars.

Portrait of Maurice, 1976, commissioned portrait for Gabrielle Keiller, synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas. To create this screenprinted image, he worked from Polaroids of Maurice, taken at Keiller's London home.

Andy Warhol and Archie sit for a press photo in New York.

Andy Warhol, Archie, and friends at Brooks Brothers, New York, 1975

Andy Warhol, Mick Jagger, Archie

The Vintage Dapple Dachshund/Piebalds and the AKC

This is a great German postcard from 1920. You don't see such nice historical documentation of dapples very often; this looks like a smooth chocolate dapple. Actually, it almost looks like a chocolate piebald with ticking. Looks like there's a white tipped tail. We're not pattern experts here, can anyone help?

Meanwhile, one of your hosts, Joey, is still bewildered that as a piebald, he's not accepted as a breed standard by the AKC. This is a photo of almost 7-year-old Joey from this past Sunday. Joey says: "My piebald people have suffered and have been oppressed far too long. One day that AKC will accept and love us for the dachshunds that we are. For, if I am not dachshund, then what am I?"

Voting Results for the 2006 Revision to the AKC Breed Standard for the Dachshund:
Approve the addition of the piebald description to the breed standard
VOTES CAST - 747
VOTES NEEDED FOR ADOPTION - 498
VOTES IN FAVOR - 316*failed
VOTES AGAINST - 431

Your other host Maggie, Joey's littermate sister who is secure with her recognized dappling, thinks it's hilarious.

Have a great Friday.

The Fine Dachshund Art of Joy Kroeger Beckner

"Squirrel Season - Smooth"

Oh my. How nice. Brings a whole new meaning to the term 'dachshund bookends.' Joy Beckner is a St. Louis artist and dachshund lover with a bibliography and resume much too complex to condense here. This is her artist statement from her website: Joy Kroeger Beckner is inspired by sensuous shapes of skin, bone and muscle. She models clay into classical forms, which are then cast into bronze. She is thrilled to make something move in-the-round bringing smiles, giggles or tears to the eyes of those who see and touch her work. She first showed in a national competition in 1996. She has earned awards at the National Academy Museum, the National Sculpture Society and the Society of Animal Artists. Her bronze dachshunds have earned numerous awards, including four Best-in-Shows. Art Show at the Dog Show sponsors purchased one for the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog. Joy attended Washington University School of Fine Arts in her hometown, St. Louis, MO.

Check out JoyBeckner.com to marvel at her work.


Hot dog! dachshund statues

Click the link to enjoy a local St. Louis news video and interview with the artist.

"Life's a Ball"

Gearing Up for the Dachshund Holidays with Bobo

Dachshunds need their own holiday. We've got National Hot Dog Day and National Hot Dog Month, but that just isn't good enough. Doxmas? Doxukkah? Kwanzdox? Doxivus?
Regardless of the holiday, there's one thing that dachshunds want: "Bobo." Well, Bobo and maybe a big plate of cheese and sausage.
And with the holidays just around the corner, the popular Bobo gets festive this year with Santa hat and boots or wearing a traditional yarmlke and holding a dreidel. Makes a great stocking stuffer for good little dogs. Find them both for just 6 bucks at Dachshund Delights.

Enjoy the classic Petsmart Bobo dachshund commercial. When's the last time you've seen it?

Wild Boars, Wild Boar Wire Hairs, and Crashing Bores

Dachshund lover Clemens von Saldern has a problem with wild boars. Not the dachshund, but the actual pig. Above, he surveys damage done by wild boars near his home in Potsdam, Germany, on the southwest border of Berlin. His pretty wild boar wire hair dachshund, 'Pau-Pau' helps out. Von Saldern has just erected an electric fence on the exact site where the Berlin wall stood. But the organic food distributor isn't rebuilding the Iron Curtain -- he's just trying to stop the wild boars from tearing up his garden.

If you're interested in the wild boar problems plaguing Berlin, read the rest at Bloomberg.com. There's grand tales of Nazis, hunting, global warming, and elderly women feeding them like pets.

A wild boar scavenges for food in Tegel Forest in Berlin.

Clemens von Saldern walks with his wife Nadja and Pau-Pau while attaching signs warning of the electric fence.

As an aside, what's that Morrissey song....The World is Full of Crashing Boars? We'll use any opportunity to promote our hero Morrissey, former lead singer of British band The Smiths. Here he sings 'The World is Full of Crashing Bores." A previous dachshund of ours, Louie (RIP), actually got to meet Morrissey once, and got a good scratch on the belly. But that's another story for another time.

Have a great day!

Dachshunds and Veterans Day

(click photo to enlarge)

Because Veterans Day fell on a Sunday this year, it is being observed today.

November 11, or what has come to be known as Veterans Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor Armistice Day - the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislature that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.' As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.
In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The above photo is one of the most interesting dachshund related photos we've ever come across, and today is a great day to share it. (Click photo to enlarge). It was taken on a war ship during WWII. Is it the world's first dachshund race? Note the smiles and fascination of the crew as they watch the doxies play. Whatever is going on in that photo, it looks like the doxies provided great entertainment for the ship's crew. Woof!

Related: Dachshunds Reunited with their Dads in the News

Related: Dachshunds in History: The Saga of Sgt. Wally D. Hund

Related: Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Fritz and the "Jane" Cartoon Series

The Church of Dachshund

It is Sunday, after all. If you didn't go to Church today, and even if you did, enjoy this 5-minute e-sermon by Rev. J.T. Wheeler: "Life Lessons From a Dog Named Buddy." His dachshund 'Buddy' recently passed, and he talks with great compassion about what Buddy taught him. Now, it's not our intention to promote any religion in any way on a daily dachshund news blog, we simply identified with what the Reverend has to say about the loss of his dachshund, and hope that any animal lover can appreciate it as well.

Related: Dachshund Lovers and the Proclamation of Animal Compassion

Related: The Blessed Dachshund

Buddy Wheeler - R. I. P. 1992 - 2007

Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Ian McShane

Ian McShane and 'Morrie,' 1973

Who? Ian McShane is a Golden Globe-winning English actor. In the United Kingdom, his best known role may be that of roguish but dashing antiques dealer Lovejoy in the BBC drama series of the same name. He also enjoyed fame in the United States as bounding English cad Don Lockwood in the soap opera Dallas. Even before Lovejoy, McShane was a pin-up as a result of appearances in television series such as Wuthering Heights (1967, as Heathcliff), Jesus of Nazareth (1977, as Judas Iscariot), and Disraeli (1978) -- as well as films like Sky West and Crooked (1966) and Battle of Britain (1969).
This photo is taken from the newly released The Best of Cosmopolitan: the 70s and 80s.
Accoding to The Guardian, who recently had a look at our obsession with 70s retro magazines, his dachshund was named 'Morrie.' "Do you take him home and give him a nice warm bath? Or cross the street to avoid him? Either way the dog looks a little distressed."

Two Dachshunds Featured in 2008 Carmel Dog Calendar

Meet 'Ellie Jelly Belly' (top) and 'Sophie.' They were selected by a panel of judges among over 175 entrants to appear in the 2008 Carmel Dog Calendar. Of course they were!
Carmel, California, also known as Carmel-by-the-Sea, is a little town that various sources consistently rate in the top ten dog-friendly towns in the US. Carmel offers a dogs-only drinking fountain, doggie beaches, and dachshund lover Doris Day's Cypress Inn (bring your dachshunds).
The calendar, which was released this week, is available on-line at carmeldogcalendar, and all proceeds go to the SPCA of Monterey County. See all 175 entrants at the link. Looks like you'll have to buy the calendar to see the final photographs of Ellie and Sophie.
Read more about the Carmel Dog Calendar at the Carmel Pine Cone.

When Dachshund Lives Are On The Line

Veterinary medicine sure has changed since 1954 when this great old photo was taken. God bless our dedicated vets. The Appleton Post-Crescent out of Wisconsin offers up this look inside 'Frankie' the dachshund's visit to the modern emergency veterinary clinic. Excerpt from the Appleton Post-Crescent, by Kirk Wagner:
The patients come in at all hours of the day. Big ones. Little ones. Some are awake, even alert. Others are unconscious.
A few cling to life by a thread as thin as a spider web's.
Frankie is one of these. He arrives at the emergency room in a coma after drinking antifreeze.
A doctor and several nurses surround his tiny form. A high-intensity overhead light glares down on surgical gloves and stainless steel instruments. Syringes, used and unused, litter trays and tabletops. Barely audible country music trickles from a speaker in the operating room.
Dr. Lisa Peters tells a nurse, "Put pressure right here, but don't stretch anything."
To another nurse: "Put your hand on his trachea."
She probes an incision in Frankie's neck and shakes her head.
"He's so flat-out comatose."
They work on Frankie for hours. They check his blood pressure, then lay him on blankets inside an incubator. A nurse starts filling out his chart. Another one tapes I.V. tubes to his paws and attaches him to a heart-rate monitor.
He has a long way to go.
Frankie, a dachshund, is one of 300 animals treated by the emergency room of the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center each week, according to Lyn Schuh, public relations and outreach coordinator for the center and its sister facility in Green Bay.
The high volume of patients keeps Dr. Peters and her colleagues busy.
"There are emergency doctors here 24-7," says Dr. Peters, who has been practicing emergency veterinary medicine for almost 10 years. "It's nights, holidays, weekends. Your day shift turns into a night shift."
She pauses.
"The hours are extensive."
In the days after his emergency surgery, Frankie recovers.
And goes home.

Related: New Dachshund Momma Post C-Section